TEN THINGS I WILL NOT DO IN 2013

It is January, 2013.

This is my 2,075th post here.

Whoa.

January is a good time to do a little future-looking, I guess, being that it is the turnover of my culture's annual calendar and I occasionally will buddy up to a tradition or two. I really loathe New Year's resolutions, though; no one keeps them because they end up feeling artificial and judge-y. I hardly need some friggin' resolution poking me in the head with a stick, even if that's exactly what I need. Yet I do feel like a little planning and a few goals are probably a good thing to strive toward. It's far too easy to not think at all and autopilot yourself straight to the grave. But rather than set the bar with high hopes and rusty hardware only to feel the familiar sting of totally avoidable failure (the worst kind), I think I shall focus on things I don't want to do in 2013. And it's more fun.

1. I will immediately stop watching any kind of television that makes me feel pissed off because it's so incredibly lame or stupid. I will leave the room, even if sunk down into a comfy chair.

2. I will engage in exactly NO conversations about Hollywood celebrities or sports figures, other than Betty White. No, not even Betty White. Done.

3. I will not dance in public, because it just looks so bad on anyone my age unless it's the waltz or the polka. I'm down with the polka.

4. I will not photograph nor attend shows I don't really want to be at.

5. I will not attend beekeeper school, any Scientology meetings, or the birth of Kanye West's kid, either.

6. I will not wear lederhosen.

7. I will not go to the post office at the last minute at Christmastime again. Please send me a reminder about this, Internet.

8. I will not wait as much for something. I will make more somethings myself, even if I have to go all Little Red Hen-ish.

9. I will not worry quite as much. It's a process.

10. I will not dump Popthomology for something that pays way more (which would be anything) but I don't love anywhere near as much.

So tomorrow is set. No crap TV, no pinheaded conversations about people I don't know or even like at all, no middle-age jiggling (in public) (unless it's the polka), no photographing Kid Rock, no change of career that involves insects, mind-control cults, or effin' Kanye West, no German cultural clothing, no slogging heavy packages, no slacking, no wringing my hands about things that aren't under my control, and no not writing post # 2076.

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LARS FLORIDABERG, PART TWO: SHOW REVIEW & PHOTOS OF NEW COKE AND LARS FINBERG WITH COP CITY CHILL PILLARS @ GRAMPS, MIAMI, FLORIDA 1/5/13

Whew! OK, here's the conclusion of our great and groovy Florida show duo starring a suparrr select slice of SoFla's coolest local garage/psych/experimental bands and our pal Lars Finberg of L.A./Seattle-based band the Intelligence! Part One gives you a little of HOW ON EARTH this ever managed to come about in the first place and the review/photos for the mighty and magical first performance for Velvet Underground Night, located at Dada in Delray Beach. (You also might enjoy reading this show preview and interview with Meestar Feenberg by myself, Miss Ten, and our friend Stacy B. It's improbable-yet-amusing-and-informative things like this that keep you coming here, I bet. Or hope.)

After a some sleep/recovery time on Saturday, we headed south into Miami's Wynwood Art District (which I covered a bit here earlier in the year, if you'd like to browse some of the amazing building art and the best-ever photo of Miss Ten) to get everyone set up at Gramps, a brand-new bar/club that's still in it's soft open phase and has already became a hotspot for Miami's nightlife hepcats and kitties. I really love what owner Adam Gersten is setting up here -- Gramps has an awesome, stark retro vibe that fits in perfectly with the grit and funk of the surrounding 'hood, but at the same time it feels welcoming and fun, like you were heading over to a friend's tricked-out rec room from decades past. Our modest lil' event would be Gramps' first rock show ever, and we were all so excited for the bands to be playing on the outdoor stage underneath the stars and big jets making their big ways to Miami International. Strutter Productions' Rob and Stacy Budowsky helped man the door, and -- oh yes! -- there was a grilled cheese food truck outside! Lars and the irrepressible and delightful Gabriel Alcala of Miami's Jacuzzi Boys started up their dual DJ 'puters (Gabe inside, Lars outside) and I admit I was hovering off the ground a little when Lars played all of the Kinks' "Arthur" album. Just a little.

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LARS FLORIDABERG, PART ONE: SHOW REVIEW & PHOTOS FROM VELVET UNDERGROUND NIGHT WITH LARS FINBERG, COP CITY CHILL PILLARS, BLACK SEAL, BEACH DAY, JUSTIN CRUMPTON @ DADA, DELRAY BEACH, FLORIDA 1/4/13

You better move it, sweet babe
Hey, on down to your shoes

Things, they're right, mama

You know it'll work out fine...

"Guess I'm Falling In Love," The Velvet Underground, 1967

I think I'm still taking it all in, and might be taking it all in for awhile.

You know how when things that shouldn't work out for every conceivable, sensible, predictable reason, sometime actually work out? And, even more spectacularly rarely, when that thing that should have been maybe a hot ol' mess turns out to be really, REALLY great? That's what happened this past weekend in Florida, as we brought Lars Finberg (The Intelligence) together with West Palm Beach band Cop City Chill Pillars and other musicians to play shows at Dada in Delray Beach and Gramps in Miami. What what what, you ask? Here's a bit of the backstory timeline:

-- I plan to surprise my daughter with a trip to Florida on Christmas to visit our friends the Budowskys. I ask Rob and Stacy B. if there are any good concerts happening during our stay, and we start mulling around the idea of putting one together ourselves. Hmm...I think, although I have never arranged a show in my life. We ponder.
-- After weeks of airfare-watching, I break down and buy our pricey plane tickets. Almost immediately afterward, I see that the Intelligence, the band that made my FAVORITE ALBUM this year, has booked a show for New Year's Eve in SEATTLE when I am in Florida. I extend extremely loud and despairing lamentations skyward, punctuated by obscene hand gestures.
-- Hmm, I hmm, HMM.
-- I pathetically whine to Lars about missing the Intelligence because I am going to Florida, and with some hesitation mention that I was thinking of maaaaaybe asking if he'd would ever maaaaaaybe be interested in flying down then and play or DJ for our show that we want to do, although I have zero idea of exactly how that would ever work out. Pro, huh?
-- Lars replies something like, damn or oh no or gosh golly, that would have been really cool. No, wait...he said, "crud."
-- TING!, my brain ting-ed. This is the sound my head makes when it steels itself in clarified determination. Why wait for something good to happen? GO MAKE IT HAPPEN! Hey!, my spinal cord chimed in because it's a JERK, hey, you lady, what do you know about all this, nada is what! SHURRUP, I told the cord, let my brain run with this. There are tons of nice people in SoFla that love cool music and we will figure it out!

To make an impossibly complex and long story short(er), we did! This very-strange-yet-amazing convergence of people, places, and things came together (with MAJOR MAJOR work from Kismet Vintage's Aly Gore and the folks at Dada, the Buds, Gramps' Adam Gersten, Steev Rullman at Pure Honey, Cop City Chill Pillars, and The Lars Himself) to get Lars from Seattle to SoFla to play a night of Velvet Underground covers in a beautiful old home converted into a restaurant and performance space and then to perform CCCP songs + the VU songs + DJ at the newest, hippest bar in Miami's Wynwood Art District. Lars is either very trusting or slightly crazy (or both; the best combo, I feel), to go cross-country on a redeye flight to learn all-new-to-him songs with Cop City at their rehearsal space in just a couple of days, and the Cop City dudes were incredibly cool to agree, too -- not every band would be willing and eager to also take a chance on doing something different.

When I first walked into Dada from the front porch into the two tiny front rooms that make up the space, I wondered where the bands would be playing. Right in front of the lovely old fireplace right on the floor, as soon as the dining tables were cleared out, I found out. People milled about chatting and drinking, girls and guys eyed up velvet-y groovy clothes from the Kismet Vintage sale rack, and the air was warm and sweet...some kind of spark was beginning to happen.

(Click on the photos to enlarge, or go to Flickr and see them all!)

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IPHONE PHOTO ROUNDUP: MISS TEN & THE BEACH

It's our last full day of our grand Florida vacation and the first time we made it to the beach on this go-'round! I took a few shots of my daughter and just loved the blues of her shirt and the sky and the water together.

Tomorrow it's back to the Miami airport and the long flight to Seattle, but we will have these images to warm us on a rainy winter day, right? So many thank yous to our amazingly generous hosts, the Budowsky family, their wonderful extended families and friends that we now hold so dear, all the great music folks that helped make this weekend so memorable (more about THAT in the next few days!), and a special leetel fren, too.

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IPHONE PHOTO ROUNDUP: KISMET RECYCLED VINTAGE & DESIGNER CLOTHING, DELRAY BEACH, FLORIDA

The last few days of our Florida vacay are jam-packed with action and fun, lemme tell ya. Yesterday afternoon we piled in the car and drove north to lovely Delray Beach and spent a few hours pouring over the deliciousness that is Kismet Vintage! It's truly one of the nicest vintage clothing stores I've been in -- owners Aly and Liam have fantastic eyes for picking out great pieces, and we ooh'd and ahh'd and tried on lots of things and had a great time. I ended up getting two superb pop-art designer dresses that would make you jealous. If you are in the area, make sure to stop in and check it out, or visit their site and see what they have available on the Ebays!

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GOAT 21

My friend Kellie tipped me off this morning to this EXCELLENT GOAT VIDEO, so here you go! Found a few more, too! AAHH! GOATS!

Goat Sounds Like Chicken



Goat Is Compelled To Stand On Donkey



Goat Is Compelled To Stand On Horse



Goats Are Compelled To Stand On Shelf And Also Try To Climb Walls


BONUS! WEIRD HORSE!

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SHOW PREVIEW & INTERVIEW: MISS TEN, STACY B. AND I QUIZ LARS FINBERG OF THE INTELLIGENCE IN SOUTH FLORIDA!

Oh boy! If you are in Florida (OR CAN GET HERE REAL FAST), have I got a couple of AHHH-MAAAYYYY-ZIIIING gigs for you to attend this weekend, January 4th and 5th! Because of the Herculean efforts of many good-hearted and fantastically attractive people, one of my very favorite musicians, (Good Ol') Lars Finberg (A-Frames, Wounded Lion, The Intelligence, Thee Oh Sees) has flown 3000 real jet miles to play and DJ at two unique, one-time-only performances at Dada in Delray Beach, FL. and Gramps Bar in Miami.

(drawing of Lars Finberg by Miss Ten, 1/3/13)

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THE ANSWER TO EVERY BEATLES TRIVIAL PURSUIT QUESTION IS...

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29 DRAWINGS OF A DOG IN A PARTY HAT

My daughter, as regular followers of this site are well aware, loves to draw. A couple of days ago, she asked me to give her an idea for something to draw and I said, "A dog in a party hat." We decided that we should have lots of people draw a dog in a party hat, and she asked our friends here in Florida, ranging in age from 10 to 50-something, to give us their interpretations. No instructions were given, other than the drawing was to be of a dog wearing a festive chapeau. You may note that some people drew dogs that clearly are dogs, dogs that are maybe not dogs, dogs that really are cats, dogs that really are people, and demonic beings. I like all the unique perspectives very much.

We present them here for you to please to enjoy!

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MY NEW YEAR'S ADVICE TO YOU, IN FLORIDA IPHONE PHOTOS

OMG THE YEAR IS CHANGING AGAIN!!! DIDN'T THIS JUST HAPPEN 365 DAYS AGO??? WHO IS IN CHARGE OF THIS???

Well, off you go 2012...2013 is barging its way into town and we all gotta DEAL. Since this occasion is often marked by thoughtful reflection I thought I would use a few photos I've taken around Florida the last few days as prompts to give you sage advice you probably don't want. But please to enjoy anyway and DON'T DRINKENDRIVE!

1. If you are going animal print, WORK IT.

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PEOPLE LIKE LISTS: MY 15 FAVORITE ALBUMS OF 2012

Once again, my year was filled with great new music. If you believe 2012 did not have great new music, you are a doo doo head. For me, this year was hyper-focused on all my beloved California-based garage/psych/punk favorites; it's really what I kept going back to, but a few outliers got their hooks into me, too.

THE ONE BRILLIANT SONG ALBUMS

S/T by King Tuff (Sub Pop): This is a good album, but "Anthem" stands out as majestically rock n' roll perfect, somehow spanning decades seamlessly. From the Keith Moon-style drums to the vaguely-Scottish-bagpipe guitar to the baby-voiced sing-song-y melody, it just soars above the rest in fist-pumping, lighter-flicking glory.

King Tuff, "Anthem"



Port Of Morrow by The Shins (Columbia): Upon first listen, I was disappointed in Port Of Morrow. Nothing grabbed me, and although James Mercer remains an incredible vocalist, I wondered if he was reaching the recycling-own-work point as a songwriter. But with "September," he breaks through by crafting with elegant, exquisite poetic detail a heart-on-sleeve love song for wife Marisa Kula. It arguably stands with the best work by McCartney, or Tweedy, or really, anyone.

The Shins, "September"



THE RETRO DREAMPOP CHILL OUT

Lonerism by Tame Impala (Modular): Tame Impala's sophomore album didn't receive the almost-universal enthusiastic notice that 2010's Innerspeaker did; a common musical career occurrence, but often undeserved. Lonerism is a solid record: clever, very listenable, and very unique.

Tame Impala, "Feels Like We Only Go Backwards"



'70S POP HUNG UPSIDE-DOWN

2 by Mac DeMarco (Captured Tracks): A twisted weirdness permeates DeMarco's second album, like if one decided to take mid-'70s Top 10 AOR pop songs and dement them with wobbles and stretches and a bizarre surf tremolo. It sets your brain a little askew, like if you took too much cold medicine and watched hours and hours of old reruns of "Adam-12."

Mac DeMarco, "Cooking Up Something Good"



DEEP DARK INDIE 

Shields by Grizzly Bear (Warp): I think you have to be in a mood to listen to Grizzly Bear, or at least I do. Their work is centered on pretty melody and intense, smart lyrics, with backing ranging from dramatic orchestral statement rock to simple acoustic folk. It's excellent music to write a thesis by; not so much for playing a game of "Twister."

Grizzly Bear, "Half Gate"



SOLID AS A ROCK

Researching the Blues by Redd Kross (Merge): The first new Redd Kross album since 1997?? YES! And, man, they really did it up right here. The production is tighttighttight, the songs consistently good throughout, and the whole thing is just is a ton 'o fun. Sounds amazing live, too, so like, WHAT MORE WOULD YOU WANT? PRO!

Redd Kross, "Stay Away From Downtown"



Butter by Turbo Fruits (Serpents & Snakes): This lovely bunch of boys from Nashville deliver their garage rock with tiny little touches of country picker, early-'60s balladry, the Velvet Underground, late '70s cowpunk, and, yes, Deep Purple. If you listen to "Butter," I believe you will LIKE IT.

Turbo Fruits, "Sweet Thang"



THE CALIFORNIA GARAGE PSYCH BABIES

S/T by Sic Alps (Drag City): The grooviest of my groovers, Sic Alps offers up a kaleidoscopic wonderland -- kinda sweet, kinda dirty, a floaty haze punctuated by overdrive guitars. The more I listen to it, the lovelier I think it is.

Sic Alps, "God Bless Her, I Miss Her"




Putrifiers II by Thee Oh Sees (In The Red): This is a fact, people: Thee Oh Sees are one of the best, if not thee best, live band playing out these days. Seriously, if you haven't seen them, you are missing out, because it is always hardcore crazy fun. What you don't get to hear at an Oh Sees show is their quieter  and more experimental songs. Putrifiers II is the band showing all of what they do, and I might almost decide to call it downright artistic. This album deserves to be on everyone's Top List this year. "Flood's New Light" is as damn catchy as any song you'll hear.

Thee Oh Sees, "Flood's New Light"



Family Perfume Vols. 1 & 2 by White Fence (Woodsist): These albums, released a few weeks apart, are 80 minutes of liquid light show psychedelia, both embraced and distorted, trippy and irreverent. Throughout, Tim Presley constructs songs that have the feel of a multi-level puzzle; you hear something new in the pieces each time you listen. There is no one else like him.

White Fence, "Swagger Vets and Double Moon"



Hair by Ty Segall & White Fence (Drag City): WHAAA? An album collaboration by TWO of my MOST FAVORITE MUSICAL PEOPLES??? HOW DOES LIFE GET BETTER?? Originally the two got together to put together a single but the session went so well that they just kept writing and recording and ended up with an album's worth of coolness. They dig each other, and you can hear it.

Ty Segall & White Fence, "Scissor People"



Slaughterhouse and Twins by Ty Segall (Drag City): It was certainly the year of SONGS SONGS SONGS for both White Fence and Ty Segall, both releasing three (three!!) albums in 2012. It was my total pleasure this year to be able to see Segall perform multiple times this year, and to hear the growth in the band and the songs happen in leaps and bounds REAL TIME was just an amazing experience for me. Ty gets better and better, and already started out great, so, YES. What a talented guy, talented band...rock n' roll not only lives, but thrives here.

Ty Segall, "I Bought My Eyes"



Ty Segall, "You're The Doctor"



AND...MY MOST-FAVORITE ALBUM OF THE YEAR WAS...

Everybody's Got It Easy But Me by The Intelligence (In The Red): My iTunes stats do not lie -- this album was by far the one I listened to the most this year. Why? Because the Intelligence are, well, intelligent. Lars Finberg's lyrics never fail to spark up my brain with the unexpected, whether drily funny, wicked in observational clarity, or sometimes heartbreakingly hopeless. As the band moves from dense and blown-out lo-fi production values to a more-accessible and cleaner sound, we get to actually sing along with the cool lyrics whilst rocking out. I love the whole damn thing.

The Intelligence, "Hippy Provider"


Thank you, musicians, for making life better. Here's to 2013!

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IPHONE PHOTO ROUNDUP: THE FLORIDA TOURIST SHOP

I've had my eye on this HUGE Florida souvenir shop in Hollywood for awhile now, and finally got inside it today. WHAT A LOAD OF FABULOUS CRAP! It just goes on and on and on. I ended up buying a mood ring with dolphins and turtles on it, a couple of t-shirts, some Key Lime cookies, an alligator grabby thing, and some flip-flops. I took photos of some of the displays for you. Please to enjoy!

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HEY! FLORIDA FOLKS! SOME SOFLA TRANSPORTATION HAIKUS

Hey! Florida Folks!
Stop with all your jaywalking!
You are risking death!

The crosswalk is like
Ten feet away! Go to it
And remain alive!

Hey! Florida Folks!
Stop with all your swerving cars!
Cutting off trucks! Cars!

What are you thinking??
You aren't all NASCAR drivers!
Wait! Maybe you are!

Hey! Florida Folks!
Allow people to merge, 'K?
Ev'ry other car!

It assists in the
Efficient flow of traffic
And stops rage build-up.

Hey! Florida Folks!
I love your weird sunny state and
You should be more safe!

Coral Gables, Florida 1950: Chevrolet's "Road To Romance"


Traffic Safety Film: "Dick Wakes Up"

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WELCOME BACK TO FLORIDA, POPTHOMOLOGY!

Hey now! Well, guess WHAT? Popthomology will be coming to you for the next couple of weeks once again from sunny South Florida! I can't even believe by the end of the first week of January, I will have spent six weeks of the year here! All due, of course, to the gracious and generous hospitality from the friends I have made here, and I thank them profusely. Miss Ten is also with me again -- the trip was her surprise Christmas present, the thing she wanted most of all.

We went to the Seattle airport on Christmas Night and found that exactly none of the restaurants were open, so our Christmas Dinner was a pretty unremarkable snack box meal from the magazine stand, which we ate with good humor nonetheless.

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MY MOM'S CHRISTMAS LETTER TO MY FAMILY, 12/25/12

I think this was my favorite present that I received for Christmas: a letter from my mother, which we opened and read here at home in Washington State. She is 2000 miles away in Wisconsin today. Here it is.

"Evidence of the existence of love is visible by smiles, hugs, kisses, words. It is invisible as well, evidenced by a warm feeling, a sweet memory, a safe haven in the midst of a bitter cold storm or a lonely place.

Love is not only received in a box tied with pretty ribbons, nor is it always a spoken thing.

You know that because of many difference circumstances, people do not know how to express or to show love. Sometimes it is not possible to afford, get about, buy, or know what to buy for a lovely gift. But the wonderful thing about love is that it is one of those invisible wonders (like the air we breathe) that can be given at any time or place.

So, I am sending you this card full of love. Don't worry if some spills out when you open the envelope -- it is jam-packed full and there is plenty for all of you. I should know. Why, even as I put a stamp on it there was so much of it, I wondered if it needed more postage applied.

Shake the envelope even after you think you have emptied it. More will spill out and maybe even expand to fill the room. What marvelous stuff is love! Also, do not worry about running out of love because it has always been known that it is magical and can be given and shared indefinitely and is just like dust that accumulates on furniture -- it keeps showing up.

When separated by time and miles, love can be sent at any hour from wherever you are without mail. phone, Skype, fax, or tweet. Every time I think of you, love is on its way from my heart to yours."

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